Merry-go-round.



N. M. POWELL .& J. L. MILLER. MERRY-GO-ROUND. APPLICATION IILED JUNE 15,1909.

Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Jmea .6. 772%? Witnesses N. POWELL & J. LfMILLBR.

MERBY-GO ROUND.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15,1909.

Wm a m 12 9k t MW? 3% Wm 25 NH d r m &w m W m P a a m ,m M a Q 1 0 u 2 m4 9 w UNTTED STATES PATENT @FFTQFL NICHOLIS M. POWELL AND JAMES L.MILLER, OF FAIRFIELD, ILLINOIS.

MERRY-GO-ROUND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, icon.

Application filed June 15, 1909. Serial No. 502,401.

and the primary object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter having an inner and an outer rotatable platform, arrangementsbeing made whereby the said platforms may be caused to move at dilfercutrates of speed, thereby producing a racing elfect to the toy animalsupon the platforms.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription progresses, the invention resides in the novel constructionand arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings there has been illustrated a simple andpreferred em- I bodiment of the invention and in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device with parts broken away to moreclearly illustrate the details of the same. Fig. 2 is an enlargedsectional view upon the line 22 of Fig. 3 is a similar sectional viewupon the line of Fig. 1. Fig. at is an enlarged detail view of theoperating pulleys, the upper pulley being shown in section.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral l designates the central postof the device. This post 1 has its lower portion buried a suitabledistance in the ground as illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings. The post 1 is also provided with a suitable anchor block 2which is adapted to rest upon the ground and to effectively support thepost 1 in an upright position. The post 1 is provided with a rigidlysecured ring 3 having its lower extremity provided with an annularoffset portion 4 and this offset is adapted to serve as a bearing for anL-shaped ring 5. This L-shaped ring or member 5 is provided with aplurality of radiating arms 6 and these arms are adapted to support theinner platform 7 of the device. The outer extremities of the arms 6 areconnected together through the medium of a plurality of brace members 7and 8. These members 7 and 8 are spaced a suitable distance apart andare each provided with bearings 9 for the reception of a shaft 10carrying a wheel 11. The device is also provided with an annular bearing12 upon which the wheels 11 are adapted'to travel. The bearing 12illustrated in the present instance comprises suitable bloclrs 13, theupper one of said blocks having its top recessed and adapted for thereception of a metallic bearing ring let.

Positioned upon the outer brace member 7 and upon the tops of theradiating arms 6 is an annular track or rail 15. This rail has its outerface concaved as at 16, to provide a recess for the operating cable 17.

The numeral 18 designates the outer platformof the device. This platformis provided with a plurality of spaced depending legs or sections 19,between which is positioned a plurality of axle members 20, eachcarrying a flange wheel 21 which is adapted to rest upon the rail 15.The upper portion of the annular platform 18 is provided with a groovedplate 22 and the groove provided by this plate is adapted for thereception of a second operating cable 23.

Positioned a suitable distance away from the merry go round proper is avertical shaft 24. This shaft 24: is provided with grooved wheels 25 and26. These wheels 25 and 26 are of different diameters and are adaptedfor the reception of the operating cables 17 and 23. The shaft 2 1 ismounted in suitable bearings, not shown, and is provided with suitablepulley 27 adapted for the reception of a belt 28, connected with anengine or any other suitable source of power. The grooved wheel 25 isrigidly secured to the shaft 2 1, while the grooved wheel 26 isremovably attached thereto. By reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings itwill be noted that the shaft 24 is provided with an annular collar 29,upon which the hub 30 of the pulley 26 normally rests. This hub 30 hasits upper portion provided with a cut away portion or pocket 31, whichhas its annular wall preferably inclined as shown in the said Fig. 41 ofthe drawings.

The numeral 32 designates a sliding clutch member of a suitablefrusto-conical form which is adapted to ride upon the axle 24 and toengage with the wall of the pocket 31 provided upon the hub 30 of thepulley 26. This clutch member 31 is provided with a suitable splineworking within a vertical groove provided upon the shaft 24 and theclutch 32 has its upper extremity provided with an annular recess 33which is adapted for the reception of a bifurcated extension 8% providedupon a suitable lever 35. This lever 85 is pivoted as at 36 to asuitable support and itwill be noted that by exerting pressure upon theoutward face of the said lever the clutch 32 may be raised out of thepocket 31 or may be snugly positioned therein.

It is to be understood that the clutch member 32 may be, if desired,entirely removed from the shaft 2st to allow for a second wheel 25 of adifferent diameter to be positioned upon the said shaft when the clutchis repositioned and engaged by the lever 35 as previously described.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be noted that by operating the clutch meml er 32, theouter platform 18 may be practically immovable, while the inner platform7 revolves at a predetermined speed and that by forcing the clutch intoengagement with the pulley 26, the said pulley will be caused to revolveand the dummy animals upon both of the platforms will produce a racingeffect.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

l. A post, radiating arms upon the post, a platform rigidly secured uponthe arms, brace members between the radiating arms, bearings upon thebrace members, a shaft for the bearings, a wheel upon the shaft, a trackfor the wheel, a rail upon the radiating arms, said rail having itsouter face concaved, a second platform, a concaved ring upon the secondplatform, wheels upon the second platform engaging the rail of theradiating arms, an operating shaft, a pair of grooved pulleys ofdifferent sizes upon the operating shaft, an endless cable for each ofthe pulleys, one of said cables engaging the grooved ring of thesecondary platform, and the other cable engaging the concaved face ofthe track provided upon the radiating arms.

2. A central post, a ring having a flange upon the post, an L-shapedcircular member upon the offset portion of the ring, said L- shapedmember being provided with a plurality of radiating arms, a platformsecured to the radiating arms, spaced bracing members between theradiating arms, said members being each provided with bearings, a shaftfor the bearings, a wheel upon the shaft, a circular track for thewheel, a circular rail upon the outer brace members and the radiatingarms, said rail having its outer face concaved, a secondary platform,said secondary platform having a grooved ring extending around its outerface, wheels carried by said secondary platform and adapted to engagewith the rail, an operating shaft, means for rotating the shaft, agrooved pulley rigidly secured to the shaft, a cable for this pulleyengaging the concaved rail of the merry go round, a collar upon theshaft, a second grooved pulley of a different diameter from the firstpulley removably positioned on the shaft and resting upon the offsetportion thereof, the wheel of this pulley having one of its facesprovided with an inclined bore, a clutch member of a frusto conicalformation slidably mounted upon the shaft, and a lever connected withthe clutch member to force the clutch into or out of engagement with thepocket of the pulley.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

NICHOLIS M. POlVELL. J AMES L. MILLER.

Witnesses Trros. H. CREIGHTON, CHAs. Cnnrorrron.

